Livestock and Companion Animals

Emergencies affect animals too. Planning ahead can help you protect pets, livestock, and the people who care for them. Use this guide to prepare for evacuation, identify your animals, build emergency supplies, and coordinate with neighbors.

Plan ahead

Identify your animals

Build an Emergency Kit

Steps to emergency event planning

Use these steps to plan for emergencies that affect you and your animals.

List the potential hazards in your neighborhood, on your farm, and in the community.
Get familiar with the types of disasters that may happen, such as power failure, earthquake, flood, blizzard or arctic freeze, hazardous material spill, and volcanic eruption.
Make a plan of action. You may be on your own for a week or more. Survey your property to find the best place to confine your animals for any type of emergency.
If you must evacuate your home or farm, plan where you will go and how you will get there. Plan several routes of escape. Leave early to avoid roadblocks. When officials order an evacuation, you need to leave as soon as possible.
If you have a stock trailer, or pickup with livestock racks, keep them serviced and always keep the gas tank at least half full. Train your animals to lead easily day or night. Make sure you, other family members, or even a stranger can lead them in case you have already evacuated.
Decide which animals need to leave first. Determine the order of evacuation. If you need to leave any animals behind, decide how they will survive.

Identification for your animals

Your animals need to carry identification.

Use identification methods for livestock and companion animals such as the following.

Permanent identification, such as hot or freeze brand, tattoo, ear tag, microchip, license, or collar identification tag.
Photographs, either hard copy or on your computer, that show front, rear, and both side views. It is a good idea to include yourself with your animals in these photos.
Temporary identification methods you can use in an imminent emergency, such as spray paint, grease pencil, or attaching information to a collar or halter so people can contact you. Permanent markers also work on hooves, horns, and light-colored coats.
Written details that include breed, registration if appropriate, sex, markings, color, and age. Keep a copy of these records in a safe place. In many disasters, pets and livestock that are evacuated or rescued quickly are not reunited with you because you cannot prove ownership through identification.

Above all else, inform your family about your emergency plans in case you are not at home when it happens. Do a “dry run.”

How to Prepare an Emergency Kit

Prepare emergency kits for both livestock and companion animals before a disaster happens.

Livestock Owners	Companion Animal Owners
Livestock owners need to prepare an emergency kit for the barn and a smaller kit for the stock trailer.	Companion animal owners should prepare a first aid kit and have an animal carrier on hand.
Include an emergency supply of feed, roughage, grain supplements, and medications for at least 5 to 7 days. Two weeks is best.	Stock up on your pets’ favorite foods. Clean water is a must. Pack containers for food and water. Plan for 5 to 7 days of food and water. Two weeks is best.

Click here more pet preparedness information.

Steps for all animal owners

Both livestock and companion animal owners should do the following.

Check with your veterinarian about these items.

Any other supplies that may be needed.
Dietary charts for emergency feed and water for livestock.
What medications or prescriptions you should order and have ready for two weeks or more.

Other supplies for livestock and companion animals

Gather these other supplies for both livestock and companion animals.

Additional items as you think of them.
Animal first aid book and supplies.
Blanket, leg wraps, shampoo, and brushes to remove toxic substances.
Control or restraint devices, such as leashes, halters, rope, and cages or carriers.
Gloves, bandana, and face mask.
Hammer, wire cutters, pliers, and a sharp knife.
Phone numbers, especially the family or farm veterinarian and the alternate veterinarian, farrier, animal control, Washington State University (WSU) Cooperative Extension, friends, and other family members.
Portable radio, flashlight, and extra batteries.
Records, especially medical records. Include current vaccinations, medications and dosages, and special feeding instructions. Include insurance information if any.
Tarps and a shovel.

Special note: Consider leaving a signed and notarized medical release form with your family veterinarian.

Plan with your neighbors

Visit with neighbors and develop an emergency plan together.

List the resources among you, such as arena, stalls, cages, pens, corrals, generator, trailers, tractors, and veterinary or animal science experience.
Review your plans at least yearly and when you get a new farm animal or pet. Rotate or replace stored emergency feed and water every three months for freshness. Rotate or replace expired prescription and over-the-counter medications as needed.
Set up a “buddy system” in case one of you is away when a disaster strikes.
When you prepare for a large disaster or other emergency, you are also ready for any small-scale event that may come along.

Finally, practice your emergency plan often.

Use and adapt these guidelines

Note: This is a suggested guideline for you as an animal owner. It is not all inclusive. Use it and add to it as you need for your own animals. When you begin to use these guidelines, you help protect our forgotten victims of disasters and community emergencies.

Credits and contact information

Special thanks to the Skagit County Humane Society for ideas and tips, and the Washington State University (WSU) Livestock Advisor program for its expertise.

WSU/Skagit Cooperative Extension
306 South First
Mount Vernon, Washington 98273

Phone: (360) 428-4270

Cooperative Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination.